Obama Hints at Prosecutions of Bush Administration Officials

I'm calling B.S., but I'll explain in a minute:

President Obama left open the door Tuesday for charges to be brought against Bush administration lawyers who justified harsh interrogation techniques, though he continued to argue that CIA agents who used those tactics should not be prosecuted.

The president showed wiggle room on the issue as he faces calls from Democratic lawmakers and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union to support such charges. Asked about the possibility of prosecution related to the interrogation program, the president deferred to Attorney General Eric Holder.

"With respect to those who formulate those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws," Obama said, as he finished an Oval Office meeting with visiting King Abdullah of Jordan. "And I don't want to prejudge that. ... There are a host of very complicated issues involved there."

Here's why I'm calling B.S.: Obama needed to say this to appease the wacky left, both in Congress and out, who are still slavering over the possibility of throwing some Bush official in jail.
It's not going to happen.

Why not? Because someday Obama will be an ex-president and he isn't going to want decisions made in his adminstration to be tried in criminal proceedings. If he sets the precedent of going after a previous administration for acts they did in good faith to protect the American people, he may find himself on the receiving end of an investigation the next time a Republican is in office.

There may be investigations to make it look good for the nutjobs that want them, but I don't think we'll see any actual prosecutions.

UPDATE: Brit Hume on Special Report:

He (Obama) must also be aware that an intelligence community made timid by the fear of being investigated by the calm of the future for actions taken in an emergency of the present will not make us safer.

I'm not so sure he is aware.

Brit blasted Obama in a good commentary and said he doubts Obama will ever buck his political base.